Cool MateLabor vs The sweat of your brows
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Labor
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
The sweat of your brows
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Labor
| Labor | The sweat of your brows | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈleɪbər//🇺🇸 //ˈleɪbɚ// | 🇬🇧 //ðə swɛt ʌv jɔː braʊz//🇺🇸 //ðə swɛt əv jʊr braʊz// |
| Meaning | Physical work or effort, especially to produce something. | Working hard and putting in effort. |
| Example | The labor market has significantly changed in recent years. | He achieved success through the sweat of his brows, working late nights and weekends. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | manual labor, labor force, labor market, hard labor, labor union | earn by the sweat of your brows, the fruits of your labor, put in hard work, achieve through effort, struggle for success |
| Antonyms | rest, leisure, idleness | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'labour' in British English and 'labor' in American English., Using 'labor' as a countable noun incorrectly., Misunderstanding 'labor' as only referring to physical work, ignoring intellectual labor. | Confusing with 'the blood, sweat, and tears' phrase., Using it in casual contexts where simpler phrases are better., Overusing the expression in non-work related contexts. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal settings, it can refer to work done for wages or in economic discussions. In informal settings, it may refer simply to hard work in everyday tasks. Not typically used for casual or trivial efforts. | Use this phrase to emphasize the effort invested in completing a task. It's often used in contexts of hard work and dedication but may feel somewhat old-fashioned. |
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Frequently asked questions: Labor vs The sweat of your brows
What's the difference between Labor and The sweat of your brows?
Labor: Physical work or effort, especially to produce something. The sweat of your brows: Working hard and putting in effort.
Which is more common: Labor and The sweat of your brows?
Labor is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Labor: The labor market has significantly changed in recent years. The sweat of your brows: He achieved success through the sweat of his brows, working late nights and weekends.
Can I use Labor and The sweat of your brows interchangeably?
Not always. Labor and The sweat of your brows are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.